Buddhist association, non-Muslims support Rohingyas

KUALA LUMPUR – December 5, 2016: The Malaysian Buddhist Cooperative Society has categorically pledged that it stands by the Rohingyas and rejects the use of violence.

In describing that the Rohingya issue has gone beyond the region, the society’s chairman Elwin Aw also pleads for Asean countries to help save the community.

“This is a matter of humanity and human rights. Chasing them out of the country and being violent is wrong. There should be a better way to resolve this.

“As part of the Buddhist community, we prefer peaceful discourse regardless of how heated up the situation is.”

Aw also noted that the Myanmar government is preventing foreign journalists from entering the country, hence there is lack of real-time reports on the situation on the ground.

“It’s hard for us to pinpoint the party that is truly responsible for the conflict because of this. Nonetheless, we are strongly against the genocide,” he said.

Many non-Muslim netizens on Facebook continue to express sympathy towards the Rohingyas, urging all Malaysians to assist the community.

For Adrian Leong, ordinary citizens must help create awareness among Asian communities of the severity of the conflict. “This is a good stand to take so that the international community will act against Myanmar.”

Ryan Adler Tan agrees, adding that the conflict has crossed limits. “This must be viewed by all as a crime against humanity. Please, let us all show compassion and help them.”

Joshua Khoo thinks that violence against the community has somehow tarnished the image of Buddhists. “I for one do not condone this (violence). Such monks would have been disrobed (removed from monkhood) according to the monastic code.”

Gan Wei Di is in support of the government’s effort of standing in solidarity with the Rohingyas. “Many would say that the authorities have hidden agenda, but, for once, I fully support the ruling government’s stand against the genocide.”

Meanwhile, Zhi Xuan Lee urges Malaysians to stop politicising the conflict. “This is not a joke. People’s lives are at stake. We must assist the community regardless of their race and religion. Those who made racist remarks against them are just as insensitive and cruel as the perpetrators.”